PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects one in 10 women of childbearing age. It can cause excess hair growth, weight gain, missed periods, infertility, and acne. Ayurvedic herbs and yoga can help you manage your Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
In Ayurveda, the term Vata refers to the natural energy flow throughout the body. Vata is responsible for carrying nutrients from the digestive tract to all body parts and removing waste products from tissues. When Vata becomes unbalanced due to stress or improper diet, it can cause irregular menstrual cycles and other problems associated with PCOS. Yoga practices such as pranayama (breathing exercises) and asana (postures) help balance Vata so that it does not disrupt your hormonal system.
Ayurvedic Herbs for PCOS
Manjishtha, Shatavari and Moringa are three herbs that have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to treat everything from inflammation to infertility. Each herb has its unique benefits.
- Manjishtha, also known as black agrimony or wild rhubarb, has cooling properties, which can help balance out the hot conditions that often cause PCOS-related issues such as obesity, and acne excessive hair growth. Manjishtha is also used to treat infertility and uterine bleeding.
- Shatavari is another herb that helps regulate menstruation and balance hormones. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help with ovarian cysts, which are more common among women with PCOS.
- Moringa is a popular food supplement because it contains high amounts of vitamins A and C. These vitamins are essential for hormonal balance because they can lower levels of estrogen while raising levels of progesterone—both of which help treat PCOS symptoms like acne or excess body hair growth.”
Yoga Asanas for PCOS
- Bhujangasana
Bhujangasana is a pose that is often recommended for PCOS. It is a pose that requires you to lie on your belly, with your legs extended and arms resting by your sides. You can either keep your hands open or closed, but it’s important that they are relaxed and not supporting any weight. Your head should be resting on the floor as well, with your chin slightly tucked in so that you’re looking forward.
You’ll want to breathe deeply and evenly throughout this pose, ensuring that your breathing is relaxed and controlled. If you feel like your chest or shoulders are tensing up, try taking several breaths before returning to the pose.
Bhujangasana stretches out the muscles along the front of your body which helps to relieve tension in these areas and can lead to improved circulation. This improves blood flow through the pelvis which makes it easier for eggs to travel down from the ovaries into Fallopian tubes where fertilisation takes place if needed. It also strengthens core muscles such as abdominal wall muscles which are important for a healthy pregnancy.
- Balasana
Balasana (Child’s Pose) is a yoga pose that can help with PCOS symptoms. This pose is an excellent way to relax and reduce stress, which can be helpful in managing PCOS. It also helps to stretch and strengthen the hips, which can help improve the circulation of blood and lymph throughout your body.
Balasana is one of the best yoga poses for PCOS because it promotes flexibility in the hips and spine while also strengthening your abdominal muscles. These two benefits make Balasana an excellent choice for women who suffer from chronic pain due to their disorder or other conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. Balasana also improves digestion by stimulating peristalsis (the movement of food through your digestive tract).
Balasana also helps improve blood circulation throughout your body. When you’re experiencing PCOS-related symptoms like weight gain or infertility, it’s important to keep your body healthy by promoting proper blood flow through it.
- Shavasana
Savasana, or Corpse Pose, is one of the most important poses in yoga. It’s also one of the most difficult. In this pose, you’re supposed to lie flat on your back with your arms to your sides and palms facing up. Your legs are also relaxed and apart from each other. The idea is that you can’t move while in Savasana, so you should just be able to lie there comfortably and breathe deeply.
If you have PCOS, Savasana can help reduce stress and anxiety levels and improve mood overall. Additionally, it will help improve circulation so that blood flow improves throughout your body. This can reduce symptoms like acne or excess facial hair as well as help with weight loss if you’re overweight (or underweight).
It’s important to note that Savasana isn’t just about lying down on a mat and waiting for time to pass by—it involves deep breathing exercises where you focus on exhaling all the bad things out of your system while inhaling positive thoughts into your mind.
- Supta Bhadakonasana
Supta Bhadakonasana is an asana that helps to relieve the symptoms of PCOS. The asana consists of a combination of both forward and backward bends, which helps to stretch the ligaments in the body, especially those in the pelvis. This allows for proper circulation and movement of blood in these areas, which can help with the pain associated with PCOS.
In addition to stretching ligaments, Supta Bhadakonasana also helps to release tension in your lower back and hips. This can alleviate some of the discomfort caused by excess weight or hormone imbalance.
To perform this asana, lie down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. To get into position, you may need to use a pillow under your knees if they are too high off the floor. Place one hand on either side of your head and slowly lift up your chest while keeping your neck relaxed so it doesn’t strain. Hold this pose for 5-10 breaths before slowly lowering yourself back down again until you feel comfortable enough to relax completely again.
- Ardha Matysendrasana
Ardha Matsyendrasana is an excellent pose for PCOS because it helps you to bring your body into balance, which helps regulate your menstrual cycle. This asana stretches and balances your spine, which can be thrown out of alignment by the hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS.
To practice Ardha Matsyendrasana, begin in a kneeling position. Stretch your arms out in front of you and lean forward onto the floor so that your hands rest on the floor. Bring one leg up behind you so that it’s parallel with the other leg, and then lower yourself down onto your forearms (with palms facing down).
Inhale deeply as you press back up into plank position, then exhale as you drop down into downward facing dog pose. Inhale again as you press back up into plank position once more before exhaling as you return to kneeling position. After repeating this cycle three times, rest for a moment before repeating the sequence once more time.
